Why Anti-Gun Surveys Are False

First of all, I feel it prudent to say that I've never once received a phone call to participate in a gun or “gun violence” survey in my entire life. Also, I've worked for the gun industry for long enough to know a few people and none of them have ever participated in one, either. Strange as that may be, there are apparently organizations who conduct these things. I'm going to tell you right now why they are skewed and should not be believed by anyone.

People Lie:

Let's do a hypothetical, here, just for a moment. Let's say you get a call at 3 o'clock in the afternoon one day. You just happen to be home early from work for whatever reason … maybe you were laid off. Maybe you're not feeling well. Maybe you're feeling fine and just wanted to take some time off. Hey, no judgement. We all need time off, even when healthy.

So, your phone rings. You don't usually answer the phone because you don't like talking to people on the phone. But, let's just say that you do answer and it just happens to be one of those research centers conducting a survey on gun ownership.

Do you answer their questions honestly?

I mean, it's supposed to be anonymous, right? But, in the back of your mind you must be thinking: “they have my phone number and now know that I own guns.”

How do you answer? Are you honest?

I'm not a betting man, but if I were, I'd bet that at least a few of you said “no,” you would not be honest in your gun ownership. Herein lies one of the main issues with these gun surveys that keep getting taken to prove the anti-gunner's points: Many of the respondents aren't telling the truth for one reason or another.

Even after the original question is asked and then they move on to gun control and anti-gun questions … assuming they started with the, do you own guns, question, do you go back and change your answer once you've lied? “Oh, I'd like to change my answer. I do own guns.”

But, depending on how the survey is set up you can't go back and change your answers.

Or, here's another hypothetical scenario. Let's say you're anti-gun. You get a phone call asking you to participate in a survey about gun ownership and how we can make America less “gun violent.” How does the person who does NOT own guns answer the question: Do you own any guns? if there is an agenda to ban guns?

Does that person lie to say that they do, even if they don't, just to inflate the numbers thus making it easier on politicians to vote the “majority?”

Holy crap I just re-read the last couple paragraphs and realize I sound like I've got a tinfoil hat on. But, is it really outside the realm of possibility?

Non Gun People Aren't Educated On Guns:

What if I told you that some of the questions are literally meant to challenge people who are uneducated on firearms to begin with? The, what if I told you that many of the folks who were once anti-gun and learned some things about guns actually turn pro-gun by the time their education is concluded because, after all, it's hard to argue with facts.

The anti-gunners love those who literally know absolutely nothing about firearms because they're easier to tame. They don't come after us, because we use facts to shut them down. But, those who know no better or have zero desire to learn are the perfect target for the gun-hating agenda–to include any surveys.

Education is Key:

Can you imagine doing high school all over again, but instead of going to class every day of the week like it should be, you just go for the final exam? How would you do if you didn't actually learn the knowledge? Would you fail?

I would.

A part of the problem is that guns and gun safety used to be taught in schools. They used to have rifle teams. Heck, my local high school made the local news a few years back because they found a few lockers worth of .22lr rifles in the basement that they'd forgotten about.

Those rifles were left over from a previous era when school shootings didn't happen, people weren't force-fed what to think, and the world wasn't filled with brittle beings whose feelings are constantly hurt.

Back then it was acceptable to talk about guns in school and everyone was safer. Guns were commonplace and people didn't have unwarranted fears of inanimate objects. For real, those guns stayed in those lockers for years and not one of them got the notion to jump out and start killing people.

So, one important aspect before any sort of survey or vote is taken is education. You can't expect people to know the answers to questions if they don't know the definitions of the things being asked. So, an expert third party that is neutral (if such a thing exists in today's society) should broadcast different things to teach people some gun stuff. Like, gee, I don't know: What are the differences between an M16 and an AR-15.

Or, what is semi-automatic vs full auto or selective fire?

Of course, this will never likely happen because the gun-grabbers know the answers to these questions, already. And, they don't want an educated public because they'll lose their edge and misinformation is the only way forward for them.

The Questions Used:

Believe it or not, some of the questions used in these surveys are meant to split people, even if they're on the same side, while others are intended to mislead everyone, gun owner and not, using words that are fluffy.

One question that us gun owners tend to disagree on and is often used in surveys is something along the lines of: Do you think training should be mandated to carry a firearm for self-defense? And, while some gun owners don't think that training should be mandated, or required, to carry a concealed firearm, there are some who do.

So, yes, questions like that would have mixed responses.

But, there are plenty of other questions that would not have such a mixed response once people have a solid understanding of the fluffy terminology literally meant to deceive. For example, one recent survey says that 74% of gun owners support gun violence restraining orders.

I seriously doubt it's that high, and if it is, it's because people don't understand the true meaning on what a GVRO actually is. They are very un-Constitutional and most gun people would say heck no once once they realized what is actually meant.

How do I know? I run around in the gun circle, and while I get mixed responses to gun training and gun safe questions, I've never once heard a gun owner tell me they thought removing guns from someone un-Constitutionally was a good idea. And, in fact, their response is usually along the lines of: Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, Over?

People don't know that a GVRO means un-Constitutionally taking away one's guns, because it's a fluffy term. At the forefront of hearing that term, you automatically think, yeah, people who are violent should not have guns. But, there is more to it than that, and trust me … it is not a good thing.

Answers to questions like, do you support gun violence restraining orders would overwhelmingly show the world that the gun grabbers are full of it, and their entire argument falls apart with the deterioration of just one question under proper education. Why? Because that's a solution they've proposed to the “gun violence” problem they've imagined up.

If you don't know, gun violence restraining orders are un-Constitutional because they remove due process from the individual whose guns are being taken away. Here in America, that's a clear violation of a few different Amendments.

Anti-Gunners Love Surveys, But Won't Do It Right:

The only real way to conduct these surveys is to look at voting patterns. I think it's safe to say that the country is divided almost right down the middle at the current point in history. But, I'm going to change directions before I go into an overly opinionated political piece …

… The only other real way to gather how America as a whole feels about guns that is nearly fool proof is to set up an anonymous election style vote across the whole country.

The caveat to this, is that people actually need to know things before they vote. I think the results would show that people are more pro-gun than the anti gunners want to admit, and that, my friends, would turn this gun debate on its head.

What do you think? Am I nuts again? Let me know if I sound like I should remove the foil hat or not, in the comments below. Also, I want you to tell me if you've ever been contacted for one of those surveys.

About Joshua Gillem

Josh is a lifelong practitioner and student of the gun. He grew up shooting/hunting with his dad, and was given his first gun, a 12 gauge shotgun, when just a small boy. After high school, he joined the Marines where his love for firearms blossomed as he qualified with an M16A2, an M9, and a 240G. Josh has been writing about firearms and tactics for several years, is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, and believes that each individual person has the right to self-defense by any means necessary. Currently residing in gun-friendly Pennsylvania, he carries a concealed gun on a daily basis, even in his own house.

“people actually need to know things before they vote”? I have to disagree with you here. Way to many people I know vote their feelings, not facts, just like gun control issues. No I have not taken a gun control survey either.

Not sure why you disagree with me, people need to know the facts. Once facts are learned people generally change their minds on things and then vote factually. I’ve seen it happen first hand numerous times. Don’t we want people to vote with facts? I do.